There were few close finishes, but there were still plenty of intriguing final scores in Week 5 of the high school football season around northeast Georgia on Friday.
(NOTE: Scroll down for a complete list of area scores, and visit our Friday Game Night page for video highlights and game stories.)
Two big non-region showdowns highlighted the slate and saw Flowery Branch fend off Gainesville 28-19, while Buford could not hold a 24-20 third quarter lead at Archer in a battle between two highly-ranked foes. The Class 7A fifth-ranked Tigers prevailed 48-24 over the Class 5A No. 2 Wolves.
Region contests were the name of the game for most area teams, however, including three more victories for 8-2A programs from northeast Georgia on Friday: Rabun County, Union County and Banks County, as they cruised to three more victories for the second straight week.
Meanwhile, from Region 8-A, Commerce moved to 5-0 for the first time since 2002, running over Madison County 35-8. Towns County, Riverside Military and Lakeview Academy, however, each fell to 8-A teams.
Region 7-3A also kicked off its league campaign, with Dawson County pulling away from old foe Lumpkin County 36-3, North Hall hammering Cherokee Bluff 60-6, and East Hall falling at Greater Atlanta Christian, 51-20.
In Region 7-4A, White County battled Marist but succumbed to a second-half onslaught, 41-6, while West Hall took a 45-3 loss at defending Class 4A champion Blessed Trinity. Chestatee also battled Denmark before falling 61-47 in an offensive showpiece.
Jefferson, meanwhile, set a record for most points scored in a 70-0 win over East Jackson in Region 8-3A play. Just across Highway 129, meanwhile, Jackson County took a tough, 30-13 loss to Hart County.
FRIDAY'S AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES
Athens Academy 46, Towns County 8
Archer 48, Buford 24
Banks County 31, Oglethorpe County 7
Blessed Trinity 45, West Hall 3
Commerce 35, Madison County 8
Dawson County 36, Lumpkin County 3
Denmark 61, Chestatee 47
Flowery Branch 28, Gainesville 19
George Walton Academy 46, Lakeview Academy 15
Greater Atlanta Christian 51, East Hall 20
Hart County 30, Jackson County 13
Jefferson 70, East Jackson 0
Lanier Christian Academy 13, John Hancock 6
Marist 41, White County 6
North Hall 60, Cherokee Bluff 6
Prince Avenue Christian 56, Riverside Military 6
Rabun County 45, Monticello 16
Union County 55, Putnam County 0
